I take advantage of National Library Week & in my newsletter for April I
explain how the library runs. I have a paragraph explaining that by
checking out library material, it helps influence what the library
purchases, ie: extra copies if an item is constantly ck'd out, cancel a
title if it is never ck'd out. So not only do they help their colleagues
find the bk when they have it, they are influencing what is purchased & in
the collection.
I've also written articles in the library newsletter to the effect: Library
Gives Away $200! I go on to ask what they would do w/ the money...a nice
dinner, some jewelry or perhaps a new gadget? I then explain that a title
is missing & it will cost $x to replace. They really don't realize how much
titles or missing volumes cost. I had some attys tell me they had no idea
titles cost that much & they are much more willing to sign out everything.
When I was in a law firm setting, we did office checks & published how many
titles, per floor were not checked out. We had floor wars & it was
surprising how the attys didn't want their floor to have the most. Peer
pressure can work wonders! I do agree that it is good exposure to do an
office search & that some attys do not think of asking the librarian until
they see you. (Killing 2 birds w/ 1 stone!)
This is really a constant battle. You always have the atty who wants the
item for a minute & gets involved in something else & the library doesn't
get it back for weeks.
Good luck!
Donna S. Williams
California Court of Appeal
333 W. Santa Clara St.
San Jose, CA 95113
----Original Message Follows----
From: "library" <library@joneswaldo.com>
To: <law-lib@ucdavis.edu>
Subject: "enforcing" circulation?
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2006 14:57:47 -0700
I have a "situation" and I hope someone can share some very helpful advice.
We are a 75ish attorney firm. Our circulation system right now consists of
check out cards in the front pocket of the book. The patron takes out the
card, writes in their initials and drops it in a tray on the counter. My
assistant takes the card and puts it in a large red "out file" and shelves
that where the books should be. So if someone needs the book, but the book
is not there, then they just look at the card to see who has the book.
Great plan
Of course we get about 50% of the patrons to actually follow this plan.
I have attorneys come to be completely frustrated because the book is gone -
and it is not checked out. To say nothing of my assistants frustration when
she need to update a book that is gone and not checked out.
This happened to my library partner on Friday - 5 times. I am not kidding.
He was so frustrated. He understands that it is the patron (attorney) who
is doing this - and not me. BUT he wants the library to figure out how to
get people to check the books out.
One idea is to go through offices on Friday afternoon and shelves books that
are not property checked out. I don't see that this will make me terribly
popular - and I really don't see it making people check the books our
correctly. I think it will make people hid books in their office better.
I am really a carrot and not a stick person. I am hoping that people might
have some helpful ideas on how I can train my patrons to check out their
books.
All comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Thanks!!
Cynthia
Cynthia L. Brown, Esq.
Librarian
Jones Waldo Holbrook & McDonough
170 South Main Street
Suite 1500
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
801 521 3200
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